anybody plays the BENONI?

I never hear it mentioned on this forum and looking at a database it is rarely played. Is it less good, or perhaps harder to learn?

I recently switched to the Nimzo/Bogo and I'm most likely staying with them, but I'd like to have some idea of the pros and cons of the Benoni, particularly related to a rating of around 2000 (the one I hope to achieve in the future).

The Ben-oni is a sharp, tactical opening. If you want to improve your calculation skills then this opening will help you. The position is unbalanced from the beginning, so there is a good chance to win for both players.

You may want to play other opening if you want to play slow, strategical positions or if you want a solid middlegame where you can have the draw at least.

To play the Ben-oni defense can be very exciting if you win and very frustrating if you lose. Nice combinations included.

I wish you the best to try it or study some interesting games!

Bobby Fischer used the Ben-oni defense in the 3rd game of the World Championship match against Boris Spassky.

In this game black was able to use 3 main ideas for black and preventing 2 main ideas for white.

1. He had active piece play on the kingside with the knight by Nh5 and Ng4

I like positions where each side have weaknesses and strengths: that 3 on 2 majority that black has on the queenside looks really strong, but so is the play that white can have against d6. I guess putting a pawn on b5 to prevent a knight from parking on c4 is key.

some quick questions:

- Black's dark square Bishop looks really strong, pointing right at the queenside: I play the sicilian so I know the theme of the fianchetto's bishop that helps push on the queenside. But in the Benoni white's dsB is also strong because it attacks d6. So, should white go for a trade of dark squared bishops (like he usually tries in the sicilian)? Or is my bishop on g7 safe because white doesn't really want to exchange?

- I don't really understand the Nh5 move. Where was the knight going and isn't it dangerous for black to have the fianchetto tore apart?

- Doggy_Style, in your Taimanov line why not Nbd7? where else is that knight going? And is trading ligh squared bishops really that bad? I see "good" vs "bad" bishop but white's seems like it has a great attacking potential on the light squares...

-Doggy_Style, in your Taimanov line why not Nbd7? where else is that knight going? And is trading ligh squared bishops really that bad? I see "good" vs "bad" bishop but white's seems like it has a great attacking potential on the light squares...

The advance e5 is difficult to meet. That's why Nfd7 is played, to control the e5 square. Make no bones about it, having played e4 and f4. White fully intends to play e5.